Kings
Alfred undertook his first key military challenge in 868 AD when he supported his brother Æthelred, the reigning King of Wessex (West Seaxe), in an attempt to repel invading Danish Vikings from the neighboring Kingdom of Mercia (Mierce). This pre-emptive strike failed and the brothers were forced back to defend their homeland against the seemingly unstoppable Great Heathen Army.
After a grueling series of bloody battles, it was Alfred who led Wessex to victory in the Battle of Ashdown in 871, routing the Vikings in a fierce hillside assault and laying the first foundations for his reputation as a decisive leader.
In the next year, he succeeded his brother as king, who after subsequent crushing defeats at the hands of the Danes, perished from fatal wounds. The Anglo-Saxons were being squeezed from Wessex despite Alfred’s improbable victory at Ashdown.
A battle veteran at 21, Alfred had no choice but to withdraw to the trying landscape of the Somerset Levels, where he continued guerrilla warfare against his foes. Building a fortified base, using mobile armies in the style of the Danes themselves, and using his knowledge of the difficult terrain, he again defeated the Danes in the Battle of Edington.
Alfred pursued them to their fortress in Chippenham and after fourteen long days, the Danes were brought to their knees, starving and crippled with fear. This unexpected triumph will surely be pivotal in Wessex’s campaign, not only for survival but for uniting the realm.
Alfred has reconsolidated his army in heavily entrenched settlements across southern England and is ready to stand firm against the onslaught of hungry and ambitious raiders and pretenders who continue to harass and divide the fractured kingdom of Britannia. After his death in 899, posterity would eventually acknowledge him as Alfred the Great.
- Back from the Brink: At the start of the scenario, after many years of paying tributes to the Danish army in the North to recuperate the kingdom's military, Alfred is ready to strike back at the Vikings at moments of opportunities. To reflect the effects of this recuperation, Wessex starts with a good economy and a large number of vassals.
- Cultured Warrior: Alfred was one, and demanded that his subjects become this as well; the Court School unique building (which can be built in Wintanceaster) is a representation of his education drive for his nobles.
- The High King: Alfred starts the scenario with the most vassals among the playable factions, and dealing with them forms a large part of a Wessex game. Beware the Welsh...
- Rage Breaking Point: Alfred has done EVERYTHING to try and keep the peace, but the Danes have proven that they have absolutely NO interest in peace....so now he is going to give them what they want. war.
- Warrior Prince: He had been fighting the Vikings when his brother—Aethelred—was a king until his succession by the Witan council, who were commonly responsible for selecting new Anglo-Saxon kings at that time.
Flann Sinna was born in 848 AD to Máel Sechnaill of Clann Cholmáin. He succeeded his father and took the throne of the Kingdom of Mide in 877 AD, to find himself poised for greatness. Just one year later, after the death of his stepfather, he was chosen as the next High King of Ireland.
Flann went on to consolidate his dominance with campaigns against other clans of Ireland, as well as the Viking settlers. He enlisted their military aid from time to time, which caused some of his kin to question his methods. But he never shied from conflict with them either. He was defeated by the Vikings at the Battle of the Pilgrim in 887, but lived on to see many more military successes
- Dark Messiah: He is going to unite Ireland, bring peace to the island, and send it into a golden age. By allying himself with the Vikings, intimidating all contenders into submission, and if that doesn't work he'll just kill them.
- Legion of Doom: Flann, who is the king of Mide, has decided to ally himself with some of the Norse Invaders, essentially hiring Viking Mercenaries, in order to make him High King of Ireland. So...there is an army Irish and Norse warriors being led by Flann Sinna? Sure sounds like a Legion of Doom to me.
- Take Over the City: He has the ambition of becoming the High King of Ireland. Maybe it is him being modest, or practical, but he seems to have no interest in Britannia.
Guthfrid, son of Hardacnut, came to the throne of Northumbria by an unlikely path. A slave boy by birth, he was pressed into service in the Great Viking Army and was among their number who settled in Northumbria after Edington.
Abbott Aedred of the Monastery of Carlisle approached the kingless warriors in Northumbria. He sought Guthfrid out by name, claiming that Saint Cuthbert had appeared to him in a vision to command Guthfrid be appointed king. The remaining Vikings must have been suitably impressed by this saintly intervention – coming, as it did, hot on the heels of Guthrum’s baptism – and Guthfrid was duly crowned.
- The Chosen One: Did Abbott have a vision from God? Did he just look for the nicest Viking he could find and say; "Hey God wants you to be king." Is The Last Kingdom Canon? Who knows, but according to the Total War Wiki Guthfrid was chosen by God to be king. And judging from his Good Kingly properties, it would seem God chose wisely.
- Culture Clash: He, by extension his faction, had to deal with different demands between Pagan Norse Army and the Christian Saxon populace (or more depending if he'll push to Scotland or Wales). An example would be whether to have his deed be recorded by books (placating the Saxons) or carved on runes (appeasing the Norse).
- The Good King: He is portrayed as the nicest king. The only one who comes close to second is Anarawd, but his people hate him, while Guthfrid's people seem to genuinely like and respect him. While playing Guthfrid's faction you must balance the wishes of both the Great Army and the English Natives. That means that Guthfrid is always aware of how his people are feeling, and genuinely cares about keeping his people happy."Now as your King, I wish to serve you."
- Rags to Royalty: He went from a slave to king of a large chunk of Scotland, the Viking settlements. The Big Guy upstairs sure did right by him...
The eldest son of Rhodri the Great, Anaraut and his brothers, Cadell and Merfyn, were known by the Welsh Triads as the Three Diademed Princes of the Isle of Britain. They worked closely together against the rulers of the remaining lesser kingdoms of Wales.
When Cadell turned on his brother Merfyn, Anaraut allied with the Danish king in York but this was not to last.
Anaraut turned to Alfred the Great of Wessex and they forged an alliance. King Alfred stood witness at his confirmation as he received honors and gifts from the Saxons. Anaraut’s new Saxon allies helped him to repel a raid by the Danes around 894 and to ravage Cadell's lands in Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi the next year.
Anaraut died in 916, and was succeeded by his eldest son Idwal the Bald
- All According to Plan:Nay-Sayer:"Anaraut? Ha! He is no equal, he plays on the throne! How is that supposed to help against Mercen Steel and Fire. We are in Gods hands now"
- The man above must have not heard of Thrones of Britaina's new "Fame Victory" mechanic. Because what looks like Anaraut wasting time, is actually him investing in culture and infrastructure, bringing Wales one step closer to total victory.CA: "Build Tall not Wide"
- The man above must have not heard of Thrones of Britaina's new "Fame Victory" mechanic. Because what looks like Anaraut wasting time, is actually him investing in culture and infrastructure, bringing Wales one step closer to total victory.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: Anaraut's people do not have have a lot of faith in their king.
